Single serve fillable condiment packet

ABSTRACT

A single serve, fillable condiment packet for use by an end user to selectively retain and then dispense a desired substance. The single serve condiment packet includes an elongated packet body that has opposing resealable ends, a permanently sealed top edge, and a permanently sealed bottom edge. In one embodiment, each end of the packet body is defined by a conventional zip lock style closure which is individually operative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure. The top edge is heat sealed and includes a tear notch adjacent to each end, positioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body at a location adjacent to the respective end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to food service dispensing containersand, more particularly, to a single serve fillable condiment packethaving discrete tear notches at opposing ends.

Description of the Prior Art

The use and design of conventional single serve condiment packets iswell known. A problem which still exists, however, is that suchconventional single serve condiment packets typically must be filled atsome point prior to distribution. As end users are generally unable tofill an empty, unused condiment packet while with a desired sauce whilepresent in a favorite foodservice outlet, if the foodservice outlet doesnot have prefilled packets, end users would generally be unable totransport their desired sauce. Thus, there remains a need for a singleserve condiment packet which could sold empty and filled by an end user.It would be helpful if such a single serve condiment packet includedmirror image ends, each having a integrated resealable closure. It wouldbe additionally desirable for such a single serve condiment packet tohave a heat sealed top section which included a plurality of tearnotches therein.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a single servecondiment packet adapted to allow a user to fill it with a desiredsubstance at either end prior to use. The primary aspects in Applicant'ssingle serve condiment packet are a packet body having opposingresealable ends and a top edge having tear notches. When in operation,the single serve condiment packet enables an end user to store a desiredsubstance while present in a favorite foodservice outlet for use at alater time. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior artstructures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A single serve, fillable condiment packet for use by an end user toselectively retain and then dispense a desired substance. The singleserve condiment packet comprises an elongated packet body which definesa flexible container that has opposing resealable ends, a permanentlysealed top edge, and a permanently sealed bottom edge. In the preferredembodiment, each end of the packet body is defined by a conventional ziplock style closure which is individually operative to be opened bypulling apart the elements of the closure and sealed by pressingtogether the elements of the closure. The top edge is heat sealed andincludes a tear notch adjacent to each end, positioned to allow a userto easily open the packet body at a location adjacent to the respectiveend.

It is an object of this invention to provide a single serve condimentpacket which could sold empty and filled by an end user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a single servecondiment packet which includes mirror image ends, each having aintegrated resealable closure.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a single servecondiment packet having a heat sealed top section which includes aplurality of tear notches therein.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a single serve condiment packet built inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a single servecondiment packet 10 is shown as an elongated packet body 11 which hasopposing resealable ends 12 and a permanently sealed top edge 13. Thepacket body 11 is formed from opposing planar sheets attached togetherat their edges, thereby defining a conventional flexible container. Assuch, the packet body 11 is suitable for use to contain and dispensesingle-use quantities of foods or consumer goods. In the preferredembodiment, the opposing planar sheets which define the packet body 11are formed form a single planar body which has been folded over at abottom edge 14.

In one embodiment, the packet body 11 measures four inches by one and aquarter inches and is constructed of a paper, foil, or plastic filmmaterial.

Each end 12 of the packet body 11 is defined by a conventional zip lockstyle closure 20 having a zip fastener and a lock fastener on anopposing surfaces of the planar sheets which define the packet body 11.In this regard, each end 12 of the packet body 11 is separatelyoperative to be opened by pulling apart the elements of the closure 20and sealed by pressing together the elements of the closure 20.

In the preferred embodiment, adjacent to the top edge 13 is a heatsealed section 30 which operates to permanently seal the packet body 11along the top edge 13. Towards each of the opposing ends 12 is a tearnotch 31 in the top edge and sealed section 30. Each tear notch 31 ispositioned to allow a user to easily open the packet body 11 at alocation adjacent to the respective end 12. It is appreciated that thetear notches may allow a user to selectively create a hole or even ripoff the respective end 12.

When in use, an end user may fill an unused single serve condimentpacket 10 with a desired substance for use at a later time. In thisregard, the end user may open the closure 20 at either end, insert thedesired substance, and reseal the opened end 12. At a later point, theuser could tear open either end and squeeze the single serve condimentpacket 10 to dispense the substance which had been previously filledtherein.

It is contemplated that in some instances, a user may open both ends 12when filling the single serve condiment packet 10 so as to maximize theamount of air that can be ventilated out prior to resealing the singleserve condiment packet 10.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

1. A single serve, fillable condiment packet, comprising: a singleplanar packet body defining a flexible container adapted to contain anddispense single-use quantities of foods or consumer goods; said packetbody including opposing end sections, wherein each opposing end sectionsincludes a resealable closure, wherein said resealable closure defines azip lock closure which is adapted to be opened by pulling apart theresealable closure; and said packet body including a permanently sealedtop edge.
 2. The condiment packet of claim 1, wherein said packet bodyincludes a heat sealed section adjacent to said top edge, therebypermanently sealing the top edge.
 3. The condiment packet of claim 2,additionally comprising at least one tear notch in said top edge andheat sealed section.
 4. The condiment packet of claim 3, wherein saidpacket body includes one tear notch positioned adjacent to each end. 5.The condiment packet of claim 1, wherein said opposing end sections aremirror images of one another.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (Canceled)
 8. (canceled)9. (canceled)